apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

i haven't been around in a while so i don't know whether this has been discussed lately or not.

but i'm looking for DIY christmas tree ornaments for my very first ever christmas tree. which is way bigger than i'd planned for. i've got the lights and a tree skirt, and i've started on a few ornaments. but i definitely need more ideas. so far i have:

jute twine and sewing tape measures for deconstructed/process-oriented/pomo garlands.

12 little ceramic tag thingies from fishs eddy decorated with china markers.

12 funny little papier mache apples from the dollar store, to be spray painted gold.

old lefty political buttons i don't wear any more.

paper snowflakes.

cut-outs from last year's christmas cards.

basically what i'm looking for are ornaments that are simple and cheap, and either classic or deliberately ironic/fun. i'm not so much looking for super-precise martha stewart style "crochet little doilies and embroider your initials on them" type stuff -- only 11 days till christmas, and i'm doing mostly crafty gifts, too, so...

i wouldn't mind just straight up buying some, but most of what i've seen gets spendy in any kind of volume. my tree is about 6 feet tall, so i have a lot of real estate to cover, here.

what kind of DIY or crafted holiday ornaments do you guys have or like to make?

Hi Everyone,

It was very nice to meet everyone last night at the DWR function. I had a great time.

HOWEVER.......I lost my iPOD! I'm trying not to assume that it was not stolen since there is such a community vibe here at AT. I was wondering if someone came across my favorite little gizmo (read: iPod) in the whole wide world.

Sorry I meant:

"I'm trying not to assume that it was stolen...."

All my ceilings and trim work are painted Benjamin Moore Super White. I love it upstairs with my greenish/grey walls and dark wood floors. Upstairs is more formal and ornate.

Downstairs, however, is our family room with a bar and fireplace. We're going for a more "modern ski lodge" type feel. Warm whites, warm reds, and browns. I have the cream colored Petrie sofa from Crate and Barrel, reddish brown oak floors, red-orange walls. We also just bought an Ivory/Walnut Eames lounge set. The trim downstairs is super-white and it just seems too white for the off-white furniture.

Can I paint the downstairs trim in a warmer white? Where would it start if there is an open staircase between the two floors? Should I start the new trim color where the new floor starts? Thanks!

the opoponax- small simple bows made from fabric in the xmas colors of your choice make a nice filler. Half a yard of fabric cut in 3/4 inch strips will make a ton of bows. I did that about 30 years ago, with my first big tree. Small bunches of dried baby breath flowers ( cheap at crafts stores) also work. Both suggestions a tad countrish, but inespensive.

opoponax -- I second Francesca's suggestion of bows. After condemning most of my mom's old decorations (mostly falling apart or super-tacky), my sister bought a few rolls of ribbon with wire reinforcing (running along the length). We tied bows for a couple of hours and had the tree trimmed in no time.

bows a great idea. i don't fear the country look, as A) you can do a bow and make it elegant, not country, and B) my tree isn't super-mod or minimalist or anything. i feel like if i'm going to do christmas, i'm going to do christmas, you know what i mean?

Opoponax,

When we had our first tree, my wife and I made small origami cranes and other animals out of colorful paper for ornaments. We also added a few small toys and collectibles to the mix.

For the person looking for the sofa in Battlestar Galactica -- Try contacting them directly.

Production designer: Richard Hudolin
Set decorator: Jonathan Lancaster
Phone: 604-453-6650
Fax: 604-453-6651

The couch probably falls into the domain of the set decorator. Apparently they're wrapping production today, so call soon before the office is empty.

Hi The Opoponox, For Irony go to the Dollar Store and get Playboy Bunny air fresheners in balsam.

Fuzzy dice are good as well.

to the opoponax -

You still need something shiny. I was just noticing in the grocery store this evening, some sets of plain balls for probably not very much.

Pine cones - any place you could collect some? Too late to mail you a boxful....

Buy yourself one really exquisite ornament every year.

Joanne

Ok, I bought myself the ApartmentTherapy book when the article appeared in the Christian Science Monitor some time back and started working on my house for serious. (Though I had been repainting, I mean I really got my rear in gear.)

And I took some pictures, they are at
www.flickr.com/photos/realcalm/

Amazing how helpful it is to take photos: I thought I had done all the appropriate tidying up before I took out the camera, but still, so much stuff lying around.... I bet that people whose houses are featured in shelter magazines have to practically *move out* before the photographers can get started.

Anyway. All thoughts appreciated.

Joanne

The Opoponax: Candy canes.

Raid your jewelry box or ask friends to contribute dangly earrings- when I lose an earring the remaining one becomes a Christmas ornament.

If you don't have time to tie bows from ribbon lengths, the dollar store sells those red velvet bows. They've got wire in the back so are super easy to tie onto branches.
Then you could use the ribbon as garland - just loosely twist it and weave through the branches.